Scariest of All-Time: 'Bloody' Dexter Roswell

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've sung the praises of Dexter Roswell in the past. Roswell is a product of the Stride Pro Wrestling Training Academy for those who don't know or don't remember. Four years ago, when he debuted, Dexter Roswell was a snobby political character who insisted on using hand sanitizer after making contact with fans. In hindsight, he may have been on to something in 2016...

Over the years, the character, like any good one, has evolved. Fans in Stride are getting a taste of 'Bloody' Dexter, a character first developed in Cape Championship Wrestling. Roswell is clearly a troubled individual as he comes to the ring with a different persona at each show. He's unpredictable and, along the way, has developed a much needed mean streak.  

He really rose to the occasion back in March at Strideiversary when he captured the Stride Pro Wrestling No Limits Championship. Bloody Dexter pulled out all the stops and did what it took to win. I salute his efforts in the ring and look forward to seeing what is no doubt a bright (or dark) future for the macabre Dexter Roswell.  

The Evolution of Dexter

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In March 2016, Stride Pro Wrestling was born. The company not only provided pro wrestling once again for this region but also a training school for aspiring wrestlers. In the first several months, several young men and women enrolled. A handful emerged, including someone I only knew as Luke Chambers.

Luke Chambers vs. Scott Phoenix

Luke was as Bill Demott used to say, greener than goose shit. But really, all the trainers were. I mean, they literally had five or six months of training under their collective belts before climbing through the ropes in front of a paying crowd. The first match I remember with Luke might have been his only. It was November 2016, the first Redbird Rumble. He was involved in a fatal four-way that his future tag team partner and fellow classmate Scott Phoenix won.

Dexter Roswell's debut with Brian Richards

A month later, Chambers had traded in his oversized pants and headband for a shirt, tie and suit coat. He also changed his name to Dexter Roswell. The character came on the heels of the Presidential election. Between that and the unsettling political environment in Springfield, Roswell was the perfect heel. 

Phoenix and Roswell win gold!

Through the years, Roswell's work in the ring improved. But so did his character development. I'm not going to give a year by year report on him but it's been quite a metamorphosis. In the past several months we've seen shades of Roswell's persona in Cape Championship Wrestling shine through. Finally on Saturday night at Strideiversary, Dexter emerged in a bloody white suit and his face half painted.

The new-look worked as Dexter (he's dropped Roswell), beat Bo Sawyer for the Stride Pro Wrestling No Limits Championship. Sure, he cheated but the victory marks Dexter's first singles championship run. I'm excited to see what the future holds for this still growing and emerging performer.

By the way, if you'd like to learn more about the man behind the Dexter character, give this episode of the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast a listen. He speaks very candidly about being a gay man in the world of pro wrestling. 

You can support Stride Pro Wrestling and the My 1-2-3 Cents brand by shopping on Pro Wrestling Tees! Shop here for your swag!

AUDIO: The Interview with Garrett Turner

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It’s easy to boo the bad guys (and women) we see in the wrestling ring. But everyone who steps through those ropes has a backstory. That’s what I aim to learn more about with a new feature called The Interview.

My first subject, Garrett Turner. He’s better known as Dexter Roswell in Stride Pro Wrestling. In 2017, Garrett came out and a recent interview by One37PM with NXT signee Jake Atlas prompted me to ask Garrett to talk about his experiences coming out. You can listen here. I hope you enjoy the show.

Use promo code MY123CENTS and save even more

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: 10 men, 1 belt

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

"History will be made tonight!" is one of wrestling's greatest cliches. This Thursday night though, I can say without hyperbole history will be made at Stride Pro Wrestling's Bash at the Ballpark event. I'll talk more about the women's championship in Monday's post. However, today, I'm talking about another new title being added to the company.

Thursday night 10 men will compete for the No Limits Championship. But this will be no ordinary match. The newly minted belt will hang above the ring and whoever climbs a ladder and retrieves the title first will be the new champion.

So who's in this epic battle? Roger Matheus, Farmer Billy Hills, "The King" Chris Hargas, Dexter Roswell, "Warbound" Bo Sawyer, Will Power, B-Rad, Scott Phoenix, "T-Dog" Jerry Travelstead and Brandon Espinosa. Lots of seasoned guys and some relative newcomers in this battle which will make it so unique. It also makes it hard to predict. 

Come out to Rent One Park, Thursday, August 29. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

Scott Phoenix could top Scott Phoenix

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've written before about the record Stride Pro Wrestling's Scott Phoenix set in the world of tag team wrestling. He is the only Stride star to win the gold with three different partners. He and Ax Allwardt, known as Maximum Overdrive won the belts in 2017. Then he screwed over Ax and won the titles with Dexter Roswell. Then after becoming a good guy, Phoenix had two championship runs with Farmer Billy Hills.

Now Phoenix is in the unique position to beat his own record. On Saturday night (Aug. 3) at Hot Augst Night, Phoenix and Heath Hatton will team up to take on the Sin City Saints, Jay Spade and Tony Flood. Phoenix and Hatton were part of the Battle Bowl Tournament and finished second, making them the number one contenders to the tag team titles. The winning team, Chris Hargas and Savveon Ayers will battle each other to determine the number one contender for the Stride Heavyweight Title (more on that later this week). 

Phoenix is a graduate of the Stride Pro Wrestling School. He's one of the first to come through the program. The training he received from Hatton and others in the lockerroom has served him well. And with Hatton by his side, I'd have to say the chances of a four-peat for this young star are pretty impressive. Not that I shouldn't be biased in my thoughts, but I'd love for Flood and Spade to get their comeuppance after being shoved by the champs earlier this month. But I digress... 

It's a great opportunity for Phoenix and the fans of Stride Pro Wrestling. Hot August Night is one of FOUR shows scheduled for August. We'll see you at the Stride facility, 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. 

BattleBowl final set

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter has come up with a new concept for the company. It's a bit like the 1991 BattleBowl: Lethal Lottery event, but with an update. Eight team captains were chosen and each of those captains picked a name at random. 

Those teams did battle Saturday night for rounds one and two of the tournament. The winning team will then face off against each other for a future Stride Heavyweight Championship match. The runner-up team will get a title match against the tag team champions. 

Roger Matheus returns
Courtesy: Jamie Myers

I enjoyed the matchups as we had a chance to see guys on the Stride roster in the ring against each other for the first time. For example, Cash Borden was in there against Ax Allwardt. The other big news of the night was the return of Roger Matheus. In October we thought his career was over after an injury suffered in the ring. But with therapy and training, he's back and bigger, badder and better than ever. 

We now know how that final match is going to shape up. "King" Chris Hargas and Cash Borden will face Heath Hatton and Scott Phoenix on Saturday, July 6 back at the Stride Building (1130 N. Division Street).

Results from the show:

Blaine Black pinned Saveyon Ayers.

The Sin City Saints (Tony Flood & Jay Spade) (c) beat Team Frat Fitness (B-Rad & Will Power).

Battle Bowl: Ax Allward & Ryzer beat Jose Magnifico & Brian Richards.

Battle Bowl: King Hargas & Cash Borden beat Bo Sawyer & Bud Gallows after Jason Tiller interfered.

Battle Bowl: Mr. Anthony & Roger Matheus beat Farmer Billy Hills & Dexter Roswell.

Battle Bowl: Heath Hatton & Scott Phoenix beat Hollywood Redneck & Jason Tiller after Bo Sawyer interfered.

Battle Bowl: Hargas & Cash beat Ax & Ryzer. Ax then turned on Ryzer and gave him a piledriver.

Battle Bowl: Hatton & Phoenix beat Anthony & Matheus.

Red Daniels (c) pinned Wraith to defend the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

AUDIO: Wrestling identities

Dexter Roswell in Stride & CCW

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Pro wrestling has had its share of identity change. Goldust, Kane and the Undertaker are three of the biggest. But don't forget about "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the Rock and Mick Foley. Who are your favorites? Who are your least favorites?

We get into that discussion this week on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast. You can listen to guest co-host Garrett Turner and I talk about our favorites. Plus, Garrett sheds some light on his own wrestling persona, Dexter Roswell and the fact that he plays two different personalities for the character (one in southern Illinois for Stride Pro Wrestling and the other in Missouri for Cape Championship Wrestling.)

Listen here! 

Learning the ropes

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

One thing I love about Stride Pro Wrestling is being able to be a part of the community and help others in need. That's been the case countless times as the men and women who work in the ring and behind the scenes at Stride have helped raise tens of thousands of dollars since 2016. We have done benefit shows for storm victims, cancer patients and schools. Lots and lots of schools. 

Training time
Courtesy: Beth Roberts

This Saturday night we take the show to Johnston City High School. A handful of educators will step through the ropes that night to put their bodies on the line to help the children in their district. But these teachers and school employees aren't just going in blindly. They've been going through some intense training at the Stride Pro Wrestling school. 

It's become a hallmark of Stride fundraisers. It gets the crowd pumped up to see their favorite teacher or community member get in the ring and mix it up with some of the best on the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. I'm excited to see what happens this Saturday night as ten staff members in the Johnston City school district will rumble. In addition to the teachers clashing, you'll be able to catch your favorites in action too. 

So come on out Saturday night to Johnston City High School. Bell time is 7 p.m. The championship is on the line in a fatal four-way match and the tag team titles will also be decided that night. Plus you'll get to see Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony get their mouths shut. See you there! 

Scott Phoenix sets a record

New champs

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I mentioned it briefly on a recent My 1-2-3 Cents podcast, but I figured it deserved a bit more attention than a quick statement. Scott Phoenix recently made history in Stride Pro Wrestling. He has become the company's first four-time tag team champion. That's quite a feat for a young man who is not even three years into the business. 

It all started for Phoenix when he paired up with indy wrestling veteran Ax Allwardt. Under the guidance of J. Wellington Beauregard, the two captured the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles in a fatal four-way match in April 2017. The duo became an icon pairing, with Phoenix adopting some of Ax's old school ways. I found his character refreshing as each month he'd share his digits with a lucky female fan in the audience. The long flowing hair and 80s band look went a long way in the development of Phoenix's character.

In November of that same year J. Wells and Phoenix orchestrated an attack on Allwardt which lead to Maximum Overdrive's loss of the titles. But Phoenix insured he would still remain a champion. He and Dexter Roswell became the champions as Phoenix joined forces with the DR Party. The two lost the belts and over time grew apart before finally splitting up.

Phoenix's singles run was short-lived as Farmer Billy Hills found himself in need of a tag team partner after he and String Bean won the belts. The masked man was injured and Phoenix stepped in to help. Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter officially granted Phoenix's request to be Farmer's permanent partner and the two were off to the races, defending the titles against all challengers. In February their run came to an end when old partner and rival Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony won the belts. The new duo's efforts were less than honorable and it didn't take long for Phoenix and Farmer to regain their gold.

That victory earlier this month put Phoenix in the record books. He is now four times the champ as he and Farmer prepare for future title defenses. Phoenix will be in action this Saturday night in Norris City. Be sure to join us for the action.

New shirt alertClick to buy 

AUDIO: Tag team wrestling

Click to listen

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tag team wrestling is one of my favorite parts of the business. But sadly it's one of the most overlooked things too. At least in WWE. I'm joined by Garrett Turner (Dexter Roswell in Stride Pro Wrestling) on this week's podcast. We discuss our favorite tag teams and more. Be sure to listen here and subscribe. 

Click to shop and save

On the road with Stride Pro Wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Stride Pro Wrestling is venturing out for the first time since finding a new home in Carterville in November. But don't worry, we'll be back at the facility on Division Street on February 9. However, on Saturday, Feb. 2 Stride takes over Central Junior High School. The address is 1500 E. 9th Street in West Frankfort.

The event that night is a fundraiser for the school. Several teachers are getting involved in the action and will be teaming up and fighting for their school. The main event will see the crowning of the Stride Pro Wrestling Champion, as the championship was declared vacant earlier this month. Heath Hatton and Tony Flood will battle it out to determine who gets the gold.

"The King" Chris Hargas faces Ax Allwardt. If Ax wins, he gets a match against his former manager J. Wellington Beauregard. Beauregard, who manages the King, will be the guest referee for the match. However, an enforcer will be on hand too. 

Former friends Wraith and Ryzer will do battle as do Legacy Champion Cash Borden and Jay Spade. The issues between all four men have become extremely personal, especially the battle between Borden and Spade. Whoever wins that match will have a new contender to deal with too, as Jason Tiller takes on Brandon Espinosa and Joey O'Riley in a triple threat match for the number one contendership to the Legacy Title. Tag team champions Farmer Billy Hills and Scott Phoenix put their belts on the line against the hair of Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony. That'll be a great one to see how it goes down too. 

It may be cold outside, but the action will be heated on Saturday night. There are still a limited number of meet and greet tickets up for grabs ($20 each). Send a message to here for more details. Bell time is 7 p.m. 

Show your Stride Pride!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's a new year but old feuds are simmering here in Stride Pro Wrestling. New rivalries are starting to heat up too. Everything comes to a head this Saturday night (Jan. 5) at the Stride Pro Wrestling facility at 1130 North Division Street in Carterville.

Heath Hatton and Tony Flood have seemingly been at each other's throats since the inception of Stride back in March 2016. The two unsuccessfully competed for the Heavyweight Title in a fatal four-way match. Now Hatton is the champ, having beaten Flood for the gold. The title will be on the line this weekend.

Another old rivalry pits Ax Allwardt against "The King" Chris Hargas. These two have no love lost, mostly stemming from Hargas' partnership with Allwardt's former manager J. Wellington Beauregard. The two are hellbent on beating the crap out of each other. They'll do just that Saturday.

Farmer Billy Hills and Scott Phoenix are a relatively new duo and the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. They'll face a couple thorns in their sides in Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony. The revamped DR Party looks to unseat the champions after a brutal attack last month.

Two other new feuds featuring auld (old) acquaintances will also be a part of Saturday's show. New Legacy Champion Cash Borden teams up with Wraith to battle Jay Spade and Ryzer. Borden and Spade were friends and partners and Ryzer at one time did much of Wraith's dirty work. Those friendships have been tossed out like last month's Christmas tree. This will be a great grudge match, to say the least.

Be sure to join us Saturday night. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Doors open at 6, bell time is 6:30 p.m. We'll see you there. 

Show your Stride pride and save between Jan. 3 & 7

Harvesting the gold

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Many farmers have been in their fields harvesting their crops for the last month or so. Farmer Billy Hills has also been doing some harvesting, but you won't find his crop of choice growing in the field. Instead, Farmer harvested gold in the form of the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles.

Farmer Billy Hills
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

He and Stringbean won the belts back in September. But Farmer's homegrown partner suffered an injury was no longer able to defend, so now Scott Phoenix has been named the new co-holder of the belts. Phoenix recently found himself at a crossroads, having been kicked out of the DR Party by its founder Dexter Roswell. He also lost the managerial services of J. Wellington Beauregard, so the opportunity to team with Farmer came at the perfect time for Phoenix.

Phoenix & Allwardt

He's been tag team champion with Ax Allwardt, Roswell and now of course Farmer. Phoenix is the only man on the Stride roster to hold the titles with three different partners. He and Farmer work well together and it's good to see Billy take Phoenix under his wing and give him a shot (as they've had a history of not always getting along).

This Saturday night at Christmas Break the champs defend against form champs the Redneck World Order. Hollywood Redneck and Cole James hope to repeat as champs. It'll be a great contest that you can witness live and in person at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. Don't forget to bring a pro wrestling action figure for the Stride Pro Wrestling/My 1-2-3 Cents Toy Drive. You could win a prize too! 

Shop here